Victor Wembanyama had a career-best performance, scoring 50 points in the San Antonio Spurs’ 139-130 win over the Washington Wizards, leaving both teammates and opponents in awe.
Despite the remarkable achievement, Wembanyama remained humble, stating that he hoped future performances would surpass this one, so it becomes just another game. The 2023 draft’s top pick expressed his desire for ongoing improvement, reflecting the mindset that has helped him become one of the youngest superstars in the NBA.
At 20 years and 314 days, Wembanyama became the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points, following in the footsteps of Brandon Jennings, LeBron James, and Devin Booker.
Spurs guard Chris Paul called the performance “very impressive,” while Julian Champagnie, a San Antonio wing, praised Wembanyama’s mindset and dedication to improving his game. “We’re super proud of him and that’s what we expect from him,” Champagnie added.
Wembanyama shot 8 of 16 from beyond the arc, setting a new career high after previously tying the record in his last two games. He quickly made an impact, hitting two deep 3-pointers as the Spurs jumped to a 13-3 lead over the Wizards.
Washington center Jonas Valanciunas acknowledged the difficulty in defending Wembanyama, particularly his 3-point shooting. Despite Washington’s efforts to limit his long-range shots, Wembanyama continued to deliver. He finished the first half with 24 points, his best first-half performance, and scored another 26 points in the second half.
Over a six-game stretch, Wembanyama became the first player in NBA history to record 20 3-pointers and 25 blocks.
This 50-point game places Wembanyama among just eight players in San Antonio’s history to achieve such a feat. The franchise record is held by David Robinson, who scored 71 points in a game against the Clippers in 1994.
Though Wembanyama’s achievement was significant, his focus quickly shifted to the next game, as he stated, “I love to celebrate the small wins and the big wins for a short amount of time, but tomorrow, we’re already locked in on the Lakers.”
